Trunk creeper



- 1,595,007 M. J. KINDRAT TRUCK' CREEPER Filed April 25. 1925 2. sheets-sheet 1 '1,595,007 M. J. KINDRA-r l Aug. 3 192s.

TRUCK GREEPER Filedl April 25, 1925 l 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 1926.V i

, UNITED STATES Y .ias-ster PATENT foFFlcE.

METRO J. KINDRAT, OIE DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

TRUNK CREEPER.

Application led April 23, 1925.V SeralnNo. 25,326.

This invention relates to Certain new and useful improvements in trunk Creepers and has for its primary object to provide a Creeper or roller supported skid to facilitate the handling of trunks, boXes or the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide a trunk creeper in the f-orm of a frame having extensible sections to accommodate the Creeper to trunks or boxes of different sizes.y

With the above and other objects'in View that will become apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists of the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully I described, shown in the accompanying dra-wings andl claimed.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, Y

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a trunk creeper constructed in accordance with the present invention with a trunk illustrated by dotted lines supported thereon,

Figure 2 is la top plan view of the Creeper shown in Fig. 1, illustrating the extensible end rails of the same,

Figure 3 is a rear elevational view of the creeper shown in Fig. 1, showing the hinge connection between the sections of the rear sides, Y

Figure 4 is a front elevational view of another form of Creeper showing eXtensible side sections,

Figure 5 is a rear elevational view of the Creeper shown in Fig. t,

Figure 6 and 7 are front and rear elevational views respectively of another form of creeper, showing extensible side sections and where'the lock and hinge connections are positionediadjacent one end of the creeper,

Figures V8 and 9 show perspective views of the separable slip connections between corners of the Creeper frame rails,

Figure 10 is a fragmentary top plan view of the hinge connection between the Creeper sections shown in Fig. 3,

Figure 11is a detail sectional view taken on line XI-XI of Fig. 2, and

Figure 12 is a detail sectional view taken on yline XII-XII of Fig. 2.

The Creeper illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 iS of rectangular formation and embodies a frame structure having side and end rails of angle vformation in cross-section, the side rails embodying sections 1 while thel end rails include overlapping sections 2, thesections of the end rails having a pin and slot connection 4 and 5 as shown in Fig. t to vary the size of the creeper frame as may be desired. The pin and slot connections between the extensible sections of the end rails are associated with the vertical sides thereof and prevent the overlapping horizontal sides or flanges of the rails in an unobstructed manner for supporting a trunk as indicated by the character T in Fig. 1.

The connection between the adjacent ends of the rail sections 1 and 2 is shown more clearly in Figs. 8 and 9 wherein the vertical iange of the end rail section 2 is outwardly and rearwardly bent at the ends thereof as at 6 for a sliding interlocking engagement with the end 7 at they adjacent edge of the vertical flange of the rail scc-` tion 1. The end 7 upon the rail 1 is formed by arcuately bending the vertical flange of the rail laterally, thence rearwardly and with the terminal end of the bent portion directed inwardly toward the vertical iange and spaced therefrom to provide a passage for the free edge of the bent end 6 of the rail 2, this construction being clearly shown in Figs. 2, 8 and 9. rEhe interengaging parts 6 and 7 securely connect the rail sections together in an ecient manner to prevent accidental separation thereof and to permit limited pivotal movements of the sections. In addition to the sliding interlocking engagernent between the rail sections, they may also be assembled by positioning the rail section 2 shown in Fig. 8, in substantial alinenient with the rail section 1 shown in Fig. 9, whereupon the bent end 6 of the rail 2 is mated with the bent endr of the rail 1 and by moving the rail 2 to a position at right angles to the rail 1, the bent .ends 6 and 7 are caused lto interlock. It will therefore be seen that a limited pivotal connection is provided between meeting'ends of the rail sections 1 and 2 that Vfacilitate assembly thereof and also is serviceable in the positioning of a trunk upon the device, With the ends of the rail sections 1 and 2 connected as herein described, the end rails may be lengthened or shortened by the pin and slot connection 4 and 5 between the seC- tions of the rail.

The sections 1 at the rear side iof the Creeper frame are hingedly connected together at their adjacent ends as at 8, the pin for the hinge connection being the stem of the roller Caster 9 as shown in detail in Fig. 10. A roller caster 9 is carried by each of the adjacent ends of the front rail sections 1 to provide a support therefor when the Creeper frame is moved upon its hinge Connection 8 for the purpose of positioning a trunk or the like ngon the Creeper. Then the Creeper frame is in its Closed position as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the same is so retained by the latch 10 carried by one section engaging the keeper pin 11 carried by the other section. Each corner of the Creeper carries a roller caster 9, the caster mounting being further shown in detail in Fig. 11 and being of the freely rotatable type embodying a ball bearing mounting 12 with the Caster spindle 13 extending through the block 14 secured to the lower face of the base flange of the adjacent rail section.

It will, therefore, be seen that in the use of the Creeper, the latchl() is released to permit opening swinging movement of the Creeper frame sections upon the hinge Connection 8 for positioning a trink, boit or the like within the Creeper frame, or if desired, the trunk may be n'iannally or otherwise elevated upon the Creeper frame when in Closed position. It is also to be understood that the Corners of the Creeper fr may be especially designed for properengagement with any peculiar corner designs of trunk structure. lfiith the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the end rail sections 2 may be extended to accommodate the Creeper frame to trunks or boXes of different sizes.

Another form of the invention is shown in Figs. t and 5 wherein the side rail scc-.

tions at each side of the latch and hinge Connections 8 and 9 respectively, may be formed of overlapping side sections 15 for longitudinally extending the Creeper fri ne. Still another form of the invention is shown in Figs. 6 and 7 wherein the latch and hinge connectionfor the front and rear sides of the Creeper frame are arranged adjacent one end of the frame, While the side rails are formed of relatively long overlapping sections 16 adjustably Connected in different positions by the pin and slot connection l and 5 as shown in the firstform described. Y

Expansive movements of the Creeper frame sections are permitted by the peculiar type of slip joint connection 5M? between the adjacent Corner Connections of the frame section. In eachV form of the invention, roller Casters are provided for the opening ends of the side rail sections so that the Creeper may be properly positioned at all times for the mounting of a trunk 'or the like thereon.

lVhile there are herein shown and described the preferred embodiments of the present invention, it is nevertheless to be understood that minor changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

i/Vhat is claimed is 1. ln a trunk Creeper, a frame embodying end rails of angle format-ion in Cross-section with at least two Corresponding rails formed Aof extensible sections, Corresponding flanges of the meeting ends of the side and end rails having reversely bent portions for slidable interlocking engagement and permitting limited swinging movements, and detachable connections between the side rails intermediate the ends thereof.

2. In a trunk Creeper, a frame embodying side and end rails of angle formation in cross-section with at least two corresponding rails formed of extensible sections, corresponding flanges of the meeting ends of the side and end rails having reversely bent portions for slidable interlocking engagement and permitting limited swinging movements,

nd a detachable connection between thesec- 3. 1n a trunk Creeper, a frame embodying side ant. end rails ofangle formation in cross-section with at least two corresponding rails formed of extensible sections, corresponding flanges of the meeting ends of the side and end rails having reversely bent portions for slidable interlocking engagement and permitting limited swinging movements, a detachable connection between the sections of one side rail intermediate the ends thereof, and a hinge connection between the ends of the sections of the other side rail.

1. In a trunk Creeper, a frame embodying side and end rails of angle formation in cross-section with at least two corresponding rails formed of extensible sections, corresponding flanges of the meeting ends of the side and end rails having reversely bent portions for slidable interlocking engagement and permitting limited swinging movements, a detachable latch and hook connection between the sections of one side rail intermediate the ends thereof.

5. ln va trunk Creeper, a frame embodying side and end rails of angle formation in Cross-section with at least two Corresponding` rails formed of eXtensible sections, corresponding flanges of the meeting ends of the side and end rails having reversely bent portions for slidable interlocking engagement and permitting limited swinging movements, a detachable latch and hook Connection between the sections of one side rail intermediate the ends thereof, a hinge Connection between the ends of the sections of the other side rail, and Casters support-ing the Creeper at the Corners thereof'and at the separable ends of the rail sections. y

ln testimony whereof I affix my signature.

METRO J. KINDRAT. 

